New · America 250
Step closer to history with an interactive, ultra-high-resolution view of one of the rarest surviving British military coats from the American Revolution — preserved by the History Museum of Catawba County, and now yours to rotate, enlarge, and examine from every angle.
For over 80 years, the Historical Association has preserved the objects, stories, and places that document the rich heritage of Catawba County and its role in the development of the Western Piedmont of North Carolina.
Our Sites
One of only two surviving wooden covered bridges in North Carolina, spanning Lyle’s Creek on its original lattice trusses. A National Historic Landmark, and one of the most photographed structures in the western Piedmont.
A working roller mill on Balls Creek with its 28-foot waterwheel intact, restored by the Association beginning in 1980.
Plan a visit →A Queen Anne–style residence operating as the Hickory History Center, telling the city’s earliest stories.
Plan a visit →Permanent collections and rotating exhibits housed in the 1924 Old Catawba County Courthouse.
Plan a visit →Upcoming Events
August 4–28, 2026
Discover the diverse voices, choices, and experiences of North Carolinians during the Revolutionary War.
August 13, 2026 · 6:30 PM
Join us as we celebrate 90 years of preserving and sharing Catawba County history!
September 26–27, 2026
Harvest Folk Festival at Murray’s Mill is back for it's 42nd year and our community could not be more ready to celebrate!
The Podcast
The Historical Association’s monthly conversation about the Piedmont’s people, places, and the work of preserving them.
Catawba County · America 250
A traveling exhibit at the History Museum of Catawba County, honoring our nation’s journey through the stories and objects of the people who shaped this region.
Explore the Exhibit →
Membership
An independent nonprofit funded primarily by its members. Your annual support keeps the mill turning, the bridge standing, and the museum’s doors open to schoolchildren, researchers, and neighbors across the Piedmont.
For questions about membership, contact Susan Holbrook at (828) 465-0383.
Become a Member →Free admission to the History Museum year-round, with reciprocal entry at partner museums across the region. Plus 10% off facility rentals for your own events.
First word on private receptions, curator-led tours, and Speaker Bureau previews. The kind of programming that doesn’t make the public calendar — because there aren’t enough seats.
20% off everything in the Museum Gift Shop, member pricing on events and programs, and Partner Perks at participating museums across North Carolina.
In the News
Jennifer Marquardt, the site manager for Murray’s Mill, models a dress made from a feed sack pattern from the 1930s next to a dress made from flour sack material.
Read the story →Off the beaten path stands the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, the only remaining example in wood of the “Improved Lattice Truss” patented by Gen. Herman Haupt.
Take a step back in North Carolina agrarian history and visit a mill that was operated by three generations of the Murray family before increasing taxes forced Lloyd Murray to close its doors.
Our Sponsors
The work of the Association is made possible by the generous partnership of these local businesses, foundations, and civic organizations.
